What does ACLS mean in CARDIOLOGY

Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is an advanced, medical training course designed to prepare medical professionals to respond and treat individuals having cardiac or breathing emergencies.

ACLS certification is important for health care practitioners such as nurses, paramedics, doctors and other healthcare professionals who work in emergency departments or intensive care units. It also allows them to hone their skills so they can better manage a patient's condition during a cardiac arrest event.

During the course of ACLS certification providers will learn about airway management techniques such as suctioning, intubation, bag-valve-mask ventilation; use of pharmacologic agents such as vasopressors, antiarrhythmics, antidysrhythmics; defibrillation; cardioversion; transcutaneous pacing and much more.

The validity period for an ACLS certification usually last from 2-3 years depending on the organization that issued it. For instance some organizations may issue certification valid up to 4 years while others may issue certificates valid only up to 1 year after completion of the course.

The primary benefit of taking an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Course is that it equips medical professionals with advanced knowledge and skills needed to recognize critical symptoms and act quickly with appropriate treatments during a cardiac arrest event so that the patient's chance at living increases drastically.